In the morning, we leave Phnom Penh and travel northeast to the bustling provincial city of Kampong Cham. En route, there is the chance to pause at Skuon, affectionately known as ‘Spiderville’, where it is possible to sample the local delicacy of deep fried tarantula. We arrive in Kampong Cham mid-morning and visit the sacred hills of Phnom Pros and Phnom Srei (man and woman hill). Later we see the ‘fusion’ temple of Wat Nokor, an 11th century sandstone temple with a colourful modern wat set in its central courtyard. There are some intricate carvings at this temple and the kitsch contrast between the Hindu past and the Buddhist present is almost unheard of elsewhere in Cambodia. We then continue to Kratie province.

Accommodation at hotel, Kratie
[Own arrangement]

[ – / L / D ]

Day 2

Kratie – Phnom Penh

In the morning, we travel to Kampi, one of the many deep pools where the rare river dolphins gather to feed. We board a local boat and cruise out into the mighty Mekong for a chance encounter with these gentle creatures. Viewing is common place, although it is easier to see the dolphins in the shallower waters of the dry season, than in the swollen river of the wet season. We later return to Kratie for continuing south to the bustling provincial city of Kampong Cham, nestled on the banks for the Mekong. We pass through Cambodia’s rubber country on the way, vast plantations that were originally established by the French and are once again being redeveloped. There may be the opportunity to stop along the way and learn about how the rubber is tapped. Then, we continue our trip to Phnom Penh capital city by national road 7 and 6 and arrive in Phnom Penh to check into hotel.